ABS brake error message

[lol1984]

Hi
Am new here, found this from googling! We bought a 2005 VZ today and all was good but this evening it starts fine, says its usual 'system check OK' on the dash but then as soon as you start driving its got a error message up saying something about ABS error and then BRAKE flashes up after it. The brakes are working fine though. It keeps beeping this at us.
The car did not come with a users manual so we are at a loss as to why, what to do etc.

Any tips?

[tanner892]

Well this is a very common error thats asked alot but basically it relates to the battery in your car being on its way out, see if you can find out how old the battery is, as that tends to be the most likely of causes
However, it usually happens on start up/while your cranking or just after from experience, not in normal driving atleast from my experience as i had this fault and ended up being a near dead battery, might wanna search the forums more theres quite a few threads about this fault, but ill bet its the battery

EG:

abs fault?

[Devils_Thunder]

I had this problem in my ute on start up, i changed the battery and have not had it since.

[ashbox]

yeah i get this everynow and then but i put it down to the battery being 5 years old

[the_trademarc]

Ditto. I get ABS Fault everytime I turn the car off but leave the keys in the ignition, and then start it up again.

Although, I had my battery tested, and it seemed fine, a little low on voltage, but the guy said it was perfectly driveable on, and it may be computer-related.
It's not a concern, but I would be worried if an actual error happens, would be a bit like the boy who cried wolf.

[PaulSV6]

I get the same msg but only if i leave the keys in with the stereo on for 5+ mins. ABS works fine other than that!

[calay]

its not always the battery - mine did it a lot and eventually the holden ppl gave it to the other holden ppl who had some electrical experts and they discovered it was caused by one of the sensor clearances being out of spec - they re-shimmed it and it was fine

[lol1984]

Thanks for the tips guys, everynow and then it will stop for most of the day and then start again randomly so im wondering if it could be a sensor.

[Benboy]

M'mmm, wonder if you should seriously think about NOT driving it until you can IDENTIFY the actual cause of the problem. Good luck with it.

[Zahn1nz]

I was getting error messages everytime I stopped at the lights. The car was fine, no problems braking etc. After reading this forum, I took it to a battery shop, they told me the battery was stuffed. I replaced it, and the errors went away for about 1 week, then came backed, turned out to be the oil sensor in the engine.
Holden charged me a small ransom to change it. $100 just to plug in the analyser to tell me the fault. Left almost $400 worse off.
But hey, its been fine ever since !

[Benboy]

Did you buy the car from a dealer (new or secondhand)? If so take it back and have it checked/repaired under warranty. Good luck.

[henrytad]

mine does that message whenever i remote start my car, but its just the computer getting confused as too why theres no car in the ignition etc. so obviously the battery would be the problem as when my cars battery died a year back, it gave this message. if ABS is actually faulty i think youd feel the difference, or vz's go into protected power mode or something?

[the_trademarc]

mine does that message whenever i remote start my car, but its just the computer getting confused as too why theres no car in the ignition etc. so obviously the battery would be the problem as when my cars battery died a year back, it gave this message. if ABS is actually faulty i think youd feel the difference, or vz's go into protected power mode or something?

Reduced Performance aka Limp Mode.
I think you would definitely feel a difference if youre ABS wasnt working, so its just a computer/battery fault that personally isnt worth the trouble spending cash trying to get Holden to diagnose.
Just keep an eye on your battery voltage using the system menu and if it starts to get below 10-12v then you'll be looking at a new battery.

[Evilmystro]

Hi
Am new here, found this from googling! We bought a 2005 VZ today and all was good but this evening it starts fine, says its usual 'system check OK' on the dash but then as soon as you start driving its got a error message up saying something about ABS error and then BRAKE flashes up after it. The brakes are working fine though. It keeps beeping this at us.
The car did not come with a users manual so we are at a loss as to why, what to do etc.

Any tips?

Had a similar problem mate,

simply got my self a new battery and problem gone,
if the original battery is still in there, its a good chance it is this

[88GreenVN]

I got this fault once last year in the VZ. Battery has been replace now and the warning has not come back. The time I got the warning was after filling up. Battery died 2 months after that.

[Torquative]

with the number of batteries being replaced that sounds like the issue

BUT dont just assume its that. I had an issue similar to this and it ended up being low brake fluid in the reservoir due to a leaking caliper piston! Would only flash on for a second or 2 going into corners.

Just imagine having to slam on the brakes to find theres no fluid left to finish the job

[andyman]

oh dear.....

the abs light WILL ONLY flash during cranking or before the car is started if its the battery as the abs module is spitting about a low voltage code,

once the engine is started the message goes away when i gets normal running voltage, DO NOT confuse that with a old or low charged battery its not the same,

a later firmware release addressed the abs light flicking on during cranking so that was fixed,


the car will break fine with the abs light on, but in the event of a intense brake, it may lock the wheels up, Which any capable driver will be able to over come

get it checked out with a scan tool at a reputable mechanic/auto electrician

[Torquative]

oh I didnt read it right my issue was the "handbrake on" warning light, same as when you leabe the HB on and move the car

[the_trademarc]

oh dear.....

the abs light WILL ONLY flash during cranking or before the car is started if its the battery as the abs module is spitting about a low voltage code,

once the engine is started the message goes away when i gets normal running voltage, DO NOT confuse that with a old or low charged battery its not the same,

a later firmware release addressed the abs light flicking on during cranking so that was fixed,


the car will break fine with the abs light on, but in the event of a intense brake, it may lock the wheels up, Which any capable driver will be able to over come

get it checked out with a scan tool at a reputable mechanic/auto electrician

In saying its the battery though, the voltage levels on mines says 12 on off, 8-9 on crank and 14 on idle.
I was always under the assumption 10-12 is a good voltage.
Car still starts after one crank, and Ive left it for a week without starting and still had no problems.
Could it be more of a software fault than the actual battery, as with me I get it always when Ive turned the car off, not locked it, and then turned it on again...